The ten most-expensive cars sold at public auction in 2019 include five Ferraris but the most-expensive was a 1994 McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification that sold for $19,805 at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019 sale. The second most-expensive car in 2019 was a 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Touring Berlinetta that achieved $19,257,000 at the Artcurial Paris Retromobile sale. The ten most-expensive cars in 2019 also include a 1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype, a 2014 Lamborghini Veneno Roadster and a Pagani Zonda Aether Roadster.

Only 64 McLaren F1 cars were ever made in this record car is one of only two production cars that were upgraded to LM-Specification. The sister car set a marque record of $13,750,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015 auction but a further 1995 McLaren F1 since sold for $15,620,000 at the Bonhams Quail Lodge 2017 sale.

The 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta, chassis #412024, was the second of only 5 examples built with the Carrozzeria Touring berlinetta coachwork. Alfa produced fewer than 50 of the 8C2900 chassis. The last one to have sold at auction was a 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider that set the marque record at $19,800,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016 sale.

2014 Lamborghini Veneno Roadster

A 2014 Lamborghini Veneno Roadster sold for $8,337,182 as the top result at the Bonhams Bonmont Sale on the banks of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. It set a new marque record as the most expensive Lamborghini ever sold at public auction. Lamborgini built only nine Veneno Roadsters that sold out immediately despite a list price of $3.3 million. This car finished in beige over beige has only 325 km on the clock. It was one of a series of supercars seized by the Swiss authorities from the son of the president of Equatorial Guinea.

1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta

The 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, chassis #3359GT, was rather daringly, given current market uncertainty, offered without reserve at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019 sale. The car not only made estimate, but also sold for $8,145,000 – around half a million dollar more than a similar car achieved earlier in the year.

The fully restored car is Ferrari Classiche certified and received a mention of honor at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’este in 2012.

1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype

The 1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype sold for $7,650,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019 as the most-expensive American car thus far sold this year. It is also one of the most-expensive Fords ever.

This Ford was the eighth of 12 GT40 prototypes built and the first of a mere five roadsters. It is the only example of its kind to have continually survived in its original form.

The Ford GT40 Roadster was built for Shelby American as a test and development car and is one of two cars also used by Kar Kraft for “J” and “X” Series development. It wa raced in period by legendary drivers such as Carroll Shelby, Ken Miles, and Jim Clark.

1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta

The 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta with coachwork by Scaglietti, chassis 4037 GT, sold for $7,595,000 at the Gooding Scottsdale 2019 sale. The result was at the top end of a surprisingly modest presale estimate. This Ferrari 250 GT was the fourth to last of 166 SWB cars produced and one of only 96 Lusso SWB Berlinettas built. As a late production car, this SWB offers the refinements made over the course of the model’s production, including a bigger windshield, more luxurious seats, and a leather dash. It had a string of owners including Nicolas Cage (in 2006).

2017 Pagani Zonda Aether Roadster

The 2017 Pagani Zonda Aether Roadster was one of the final and most potent examples of this hypercar ever built. The Zonda has an exposed carbon-fiber roadster body powered by a naturally aspirated 7.3-liter V-12 engine producing 760 bhp and mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. It has only 1,400 km on the clock.

1958 Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet

A 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet sold for $6,800,000 at the Gooding Pebble Beach 2019 classic car auction It is one of only 40 Series 1 cabriolet built making it rarer than the California Spider – new the cabriolet was significantly more expensive too.

This 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet received numerous accolades at concourses during the 1990s and enticingly for the new owner seemed not have been shown much in recent years.

2002 Ferrari F2002 F1 Car

Michael Schumacher’s 2002 Ferrari F2002 F1 Car, chassis #219, sold for $6,643,750 at the RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi auction. Schumacher drove this chassis to three Grands Prix victories in 2002: Imola, Zeltweg, and Magny Cours. The victory in France secured Schumacher his 5th World Drivers’ Championship title. This F2002 was also driven to further podium finishes including 2nd with Schumacher at Monaco, and 2nd at Spa and 4th at Hockenheim with teammate Rubens Barrichello.

Although great care is taken in writing this website, no responsibility is taken for errors or inaccuracies. This website should be considered for entertainment purposes only. Copyright on all photos are with the relevant auction houses - contact them directly for reuse.